Gangs, truancy, youth violence,
drugs and other delinquent acts of youth had become a concern in North Richland
Hills in 1994. This fast growing suburban community in Northeast Tarrant County
was beginning to experience problems typically associated with an inner city.
Rather than deny and passively ignore the grim warnings of escalating youth
violence, the City and Mayor Tommy Brown decided to take a proactive stance.
After researching the after school problems of unsupervised youth, a teen after
school program was developed at two local middle schools in cooperation with the
local school district.

The study indicated that youth
left unsupervised after school make choices based on opportunity. Out of boredom
and the need for acceptance, many are lured into joining gangs or engaging in
other destructive activities. The after school program was developed to provide
teens another choice.

In "The Edge" Teen After School
Program, an average of 150 teens participate in a variety of programs between
3:15 and 5:30 p.m. Funding is provided by the City and includes a full-time
Youth Outreach Coordinator and four part-time leaders. Activities include
intramural sports, drama, arts, dance, chess, computer classes, science club,
Helping Hands Social Service Club, mentoring program and other enrichment
activities. A Peer Mediation Program is currently being developed which will
assist with teen conflicts and problem solving. Another special project being
developed is a natural wetland. It will serve as a ecological classroom for the
science department and the after school program.

Collaboration with other agencies
is important to the program. The City works with agencies such as the United
Way, Northeast Tarrant Arts Council, the high school Honor Society, Brooks House
(a shelter for runaway teens), local churches and businesses.

The value of the program is
measured in several ways. Principals at each school have noticed a decline in
fighting after school. There has been a reduction in absenteeism, drop-out
rates, discipline problems and crime, and improvement in attendance and parental
and community support.

Officials report that single
parents and dual working parents rave about the program. They appreciate and
take comfort in the fact that their teenage son or daughter is in safe hands
after school, they say. One parent said at a recent PTA meeting, "This is the
best thing the school did this year."